Checking flights to Hurghada/HRG last week, I noticed LTU had a B742 on a MUC-HRG-MUC flight (LT658) on Thursday (13/04/06). The service is usually operated with A330s but with the Easter break I assume the flight was upgraded due to higher demand. Anyway where did LTU get a B742 to operate the route? Was this a one off ad hoc flight or will LTU lease the aircraft for the peak summer season?

Here are print screens of the flight details (you'll need to click twice to enlarge):

From Oagflights:

From MUC's website:

A brief search showed LTU have leased B742s in the past; 1992/93 from Evergreen International (N482EV) and 2004 from Air Pullmantur (EC-IUA).

I have no idea which operator they will choose, but I hope for them it isn't any obscure "nevercomeback-airline"... Germans are very sceptical on sub-charter since the Birgen Air crash in 1996. We usually know better, but the average traveller expects LTU when he books LTU, and therefore I think these people will not be happy...

Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 1):I have no idea which operator they will choose, but I hope for them it isn't any obscure "nevercomeback-airline"... Germans are very sceptical on sub-charter since the Birgen Air crash in 1996

I've just read about that Birgen Air crash and I can absolutely understand the worries some passengers may have flying a "nevercomeback-airline". However with the tighter regulations we know have in Europe I am sure passengers can be more assured. Nowadays I think passengers should be more worried about the standard of the onboard service.

Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 1):I have no idea which operator they will choose, but I hope for them it isn't any obscure "nevercomeback-airline"... Germans are very sceptical on sub-charter since the Birgen Air crash in 1996. We usually know better, but the average traveller expects LTU when he books LTU, and therefore I think these people will not be happy...

It's a bit surprising to see LT subcharter like that. I do agree, when people book LTU, they do expect what they booked, and the same probably goes for HF and DE respectively to name a few. I recall this incident in TPA, where BA subchartered a Euro Atlantic 767 for a return flight to LGW and people almost started rioting over that.

I wonder why LT actually subchartered in the first place. Are they short on aircraft or something?

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 5):
It's a bit surprising to see LT subcharter like that. I do agree, when people book LTU, they do expect what they booked, and the same probably goes for HF and DE respectively to name a few. I recall this incident in TPA, where BA subchartered a Euro Atlantic 767 for a return flight to LGW and people almost started rioting over that.

I wonder why LT actually subchartered in the first place. Are they short on aircraft or something?

This has happened before with some 743 from a Spanish Carrier (I think it was Air Plus Comet - do they have 743?) because LT had due to planes undergoing checks less capacity than needed. IIRC it was also advertised on airevents.de to fly DUS-IBZ-DUs with the A-330 and the 747.

Two of LTU's A330's had to undergo lengthy unscheduled maintenance. For a few days in March/ April, an Iberwold A332 was also wetleased.

A little known fact about LTU is that the airline already operated a 747 for an even longer period of time in the summer of 1992: a B742 of Evergreen (the airline from Arizona, not the one from Taiwan) was leased for several months to cover for the delayed delivery of some MD-11.

Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 6):This has happened before with some 743 from a Spanish Carrier (I think it was Air Plus Comet - do they have 743?)

Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 7):A little known fact about LTU is that the airline already operated a 747 for an even longer period of time in the summer of 1992: a B742 of Evergreen (the airline from Arizona, not the one from Taiwan) was leased for several months to cover for the delayed delivery of some MD-11

Jorge1812 and TriStar500...

Quoting Horus (Thread starter):A brief search showed LTU have leased B742s in the past; 1992/93 from Evergreen International (N482EV) and 2004 from Air Pullmantur (EC-IUA).

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 10):Aren't most if not all LT A330s leased from ILFC? And why is D-AERF leaving? Permanent phaseout and sale to a different operator or return to the lessor?

AFAIK, some of the -300's are owned. If I remember correctly, D-AERF is permanently leaving the fleet and going to Iberworld. As for the reasons of the -300's leaving the fleet, I can only speculate that both the capacity reduction and the more flexible mission spectrum of the -200 due to their larger range are advantageous to LTU.

Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!